Thursday, March 22nd was World Water Day. Many of us in Canada take water for granted, but lack of clean water in Indigenous communities is appalling. As of January 23 of this year, there were 91 long-term drinking water advisories affecting First Nations communities. Adding short-term advisories brings the number to 147, as of October 31, 2017. Over the past two years, the government has lifted 32 advisories, but 22 new ones were added over the same time.
Part of the problem is inadequate funding. The 2016 federal budget included $1.8 billion in new funding to help resolve the crisis, but a December 2017 report found these new investments into waste and water infrastructure represent only 70 percent of what is needed to end all First Nations drinking water advisories by 2021.
Legislation and regulations should also be developed, with First Nations as equal partners, to hold the federal government accountable to First Nations for safe drinking water.
Water is life. We all have the right to safe water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Clean drinking water in all First Nations is reconciliation in action.
Sandra Hartline,
KAIROS Nelson